In the UK

We're here in London, updating our blog from an internet cafe in Piccadilly Circus (sort of like the Times Square of London.)

We flew in on Thursday morning, and caught a bus and a train to Birgmingham, where we met Catherine's grandparents. It was great being with them and then more of the family later that night. On Friday we took a train to London, and we've been here ever since. We've seen a lot of the sights, and walked an awful lot! Today we met Sarah Harkin here which has been great, since she knows her way around.

Tomorrow we'll go to church here at Holy Trinity Brompton, and head to Oxford. I'll be there for a worship leader's retreat at St. Aldates. While I'm there, Catherine will head up to St. Andrews in Scotland and spend time there with Sarah and her friend Adriel. We fly home Wednesday.

We're having a great time. We'll post pictures and stuff next week. Cheers.

What to do with a free weekend

This month has been a busy one.

The weekend before last we drove to the PA/NJ border so Jamie could sing for someone's wedding. It was a nice place, but we literally drove up, went to the rehearsal, ate at the rehearsal dinner, went to bed, got up, went to the wedding, drove back for the Saturday service.
Last weekend we went to PA to visit Jon, Celeste, Izabella, Caleb, Joshua, and Johnny. We were seriously considering NOT doing it because of the burn out from driving to NJ the weekend before, but decided last minute to do it and were SO glad we did! We had a great time hanging out with the family, taking Johnny to the park, helping the kids with homework, going to Caleb's birthday party, etc. Here are some pictures:

This coming Wednesday night, Jamie and I leave for England. We'll get there on Thursday morning and immediately go to spend the afternoon, evening, night and Friday morning with my grandparents (and maybe other family members?). Then we'll go back to London, see some sights there (with our friend, Sarah Harkin, who is flying down from Scotland to be with us), and visit Holy Trinity Brompton on Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon, we will all travel to Oxford, where Sarah and I will leave Jamie. He'll be at a worship leaders' training retreat run by Martin Layzell, Tim Hughes, etc. (This is also the reason why we can go, because half the time we're there, its work for him.) Sarah and I will then fly (back) to Scotland where I'll get to see Adriel, one of my best friends. On Wednesday morning I'll fly back to England and go pick Jamie up in Oxford. From there, we'll travel together to the airport and fly back home. We'll be back Wednesday night. I am so excited to show Jamie my home country, introduce him to my grandparents and cousins, and see so many people and things that I love!

Anyway, in the midst of all that, this weekend was the free weekend. Or at least that was my plan.

Celeste and Izabella had been talking about coming back to Fairfax for an ortho appointment and were going to stay with us...on our couches...in the living room. We were excited to have them come stay, but were a bit concerned about how it would work with us having to be up early for work, traipsing through the living room where they were sleeping, etc. So, Jamie started talking about how it would really be nice if we had some more storage space, and maybe even a second bedroom, just so that if people came to stay with us, they could have some privacy...and wouldn't have to come through our bedroom to shower.

On Wednesday he called our rental office and asked about prices for 2 bedroom apartments in the same complex. Ha. They said they were about 300-400 more than we currently paid for rent. Well, that wasn't do-able, or worth it, so we sort of gave up on that idea. Except that night he saw an ad on craigslist for a 2-bedroom apartment in our complex (offered by the complex, not a sub-let) for just $50 more than we currently paid. He called on Thursday morning and found that the price had gone down $50 (yes, the rent would be exactly the same as what we currently paid).

So, at lunch time we went to go see the 2-bedroom apartment. It was fine, overlooked the noisy interstate, had a galley kitchen and some weird aspects, but overall more space for the same amount of money. We'd have to pay $550 in fees to switch leases, but we thought it might be worth it. So, I went back to work (a little late - oops!) and Jamie went to the leasing office to talk about renting the apartment. He just happened to ask if they had any others for the same price, and they did! The other one was a very similar floor plan to our one-bedroom, except with an extra bedroom and a full second bathroom. Oh, and less road noise even than our one-bedroom. Plus a fireplace and 2 balconies. Score!

He went back to the leasing office and asked about the fees. They said they would wave them (well, most of them) if we were out of our old apartment by Saturday. SATURDAY! And this was Thursday afternoon!

So, we both rushed home from work on Thursday to sign the lease for our new 2 bedroom apartment. I hadn't even seen it! And then went back to our one-bedroom to start packing. In the midst of the craziness, I had a phonecall scheduled with our British friend to book flights to Scotland. So, I booked my flights while friends started showing up to move things.

Twenty-four hours after Jamie saw the ad on craigslist, almost all of our furniture was moved in to our new apartment. By 2:30 am, all the furniture was moved in, with just all the little stuff left to move over. Props to Andrew who stayed to the bitter end, Matt who stayed till midnight or so, even though he had to work on Friday, and Jon and James, who helped a lot with the living room furniture and other stuff.

At 2:30, I realized that we hadn't cleaned anything in the new apartment, and it wasn't left particularly clean. Ugh. Cat hair all over the bathroom floors (even caulked against the base-board). So, I cleaned the minimum possible to feel comfortable (the toilet, sink, and half the floor!) and we went to bed.

Yesterday we started work again at 9 am, just hauling boxes over, emptying them, taking them back, filling them, and hauling them back over. Who knew 2 flights of stairs could be SO tiring? I also worked a lot on cleaning the new and the old apartment. Jamie's Dad had lunch with us at Potbelly and helped us move Kitchen stuff. Larissa came over for a while and helped clean and carry clothes over. My Mom and Matt both came at around 5:30 (after work) and helped get everything else done.

I was so thankful for my mom! How stressful to have an apartment full of boxes (or piles of stuff from boxes) and not be able to unpack or put things away because the cupboards aren't clean yet! She came and helped me clean. She showed me how to pack glasses in boxes so they won't break or chip. She packed and unpacked boxes from and to the kitchen. And she just helped me feel not quite so overwhelmed.

Matt was also amazing. I think on Thursday and Friday he spent every waking moment (except when he was at work) moving box after box after bag after box. And he packed and unpacked as much as he could too. He was really tireless in helping us.

After a long day of work, we (Jamie, Matt, Mom, and I) went to PF Changs for a very late dinner. It was so yummy and it felt so good to sit after a day of moving. Then we came back and finished getting everything except cleaning supplies out of the old apartment. (I have to admit that we almost cried when we thought we were done, but opened a cupboard to find all the pots and pans still there!)

Today has been pretty much a day of cleaning. The old apartment is now completely cleaned. (I scrubbed that oven so clean!) My dad spackled the holes made from screwing all those holes in the wall trying to get our shelves on straight! The keys are ready to be turned in once Jamie gets home from work. And I'm taking a break to tell you all about it.

There's still a whole lot to be done on the new apartment. The kitchen cabinets are all cleaned (I found cat hair in the freezer - what were they doing?), but the floor still needs to be cleaned. The master bathroom is still only half cleaned and the other one needs to be completely cleaned. Laundry needs to be done (hey, we brought the dirty with us, I didn't have time to wash all the laundry before we moved!) Everything is in the general vicinity where it should be (closet, kitchen, bedroom, etc.), but really nothing is organized and put away like I would want it, except the kitchen, which Jamie stayed up late last night doing.

I guess the only thing left to say about it all is that I am so thankful for Jamie in all of this. He has worked harder than anyone else. I'm sure he'll be sore for weeks. Everytime I turn around, I find something that he's done to make the new apartment feel like home already. He put our mirror up in the dining room and put the picture Jon and Celeste gave us up in our bedroom. He put the coffee table back together and put the decorations on it. He found places for all our kitchen stuff in our newly smaller kitchen. And I'm sure a bunch of other things that I just haven't noticed yet. Plus, he's the one who found this place, bargained us into not having to pay fees (most of them), and took the lead in making the decision to move. I am so proud of my husband!

So, give us a couple weeks (hey, we'll be out of the country for one of them!), but then come visit. We'll at least have a private floor for you to sleep on!

Marriage Advice

I know, I know. We've only been married 1 year, 2 weeks and 2 days. What could I possibly have to say?

Well, its not from me. I just found it in someone else's blog. A series of advice on marriage (and how to pick a marriage partner) from people who have been married for 25 years. I think that qualifies them a bit more...and its good.

:)

http://www.xanga.com/PaPaTevia/602290716/25-years-of-learning---marry-your-best-friend.html

Labor Day in DC

Before we get into the whole labor day thing, here are a few pictures from our anniversary dinner. :)


Um, this was my salad. It looked amazing. And tasted...well, if I'm honest, I like Outback house salads better. But this was very exotic tasting.


Feeling fat. :)


And on to labor day.

We had booked tickets to England for a week (half of which Jamie will spend in Oxford at a worship leaders retreat.) So we spent the morning thinking and talking about that. Then we drove into DC to walk around for a bit.


I have to admit that normally when Jamie wants to go into DC I'm a bit reluctant. My image of it tends to be of awful traffic, crowds, and darkness. (Maybe because when we have gone into DC its usually been after work.)

But this time, I was regretting how few times we go there. It was beautiful. Hot weather, but not unbareable. But the sky was deep blue and the sun was bright and it all looked so clean and beautiful.



Look at the amazing view! ;-)


We walked around the Washington Monument and through the mall area. I LOVE the WWII Memorial. Seriously one of my favorites, or my favorite, memorial.


The view from the WWII Memorial of the Lincoln Memorial. And a duck.

And me with that same view. :)

This duck, and several others in a row with it, decided that bottoms up was the way to go. :)

Then we walked around the White House. I couldn't stop thinking about the similarities and differences between the White House and Buckingham Palace. I am so excited to be there in 3 weeks! :) In all the comparison, though, I was struck by the simple beauty of so much of DC. It really is a great city and I can't wait to go back.